As many as 63 million stateside vehicles are expected to be recalled in what is he largest U.S. safety recall in automotive history.
DETROIT -- Japan added another 7 million cars with Takata Corp. airbags to its recall list, which now sits at 19.6 million.
As many as 63 million stateside vehicles are expected to be recalled in what is the largest U.S. safety recall in automotive history. The New York Times reports this could affect as many as one in four of the 250 million vehicles in America.
Takata press officers have been made unavailable for comment.
On May 4, the Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said they will recall 35-40 million airbag inflators between now and December 2019. This announcement nearly doubled a sizable recall already in place for 24 million vehicles, 14 automakers and 22 brands.
Takata airbags: Federal safety regulators double largest auto safety recall in U.S. history
The faulty airbags are blamed for 13 deaths worldwide, including 10 in the U.S. and more than 100 injuries. Some of the airbags have reportedly exploded, which in turn have sent metal shrapnel flying.
Toyota, Lexus and Scion have recalled nearly 5 million stateside vehicles, according to a Car and Driver report.
The cause has been linked to the chemical propellant, which can be damaged in humid environments causing the ammonium nitrate to become volatile. Affected Takata airbags lack a chemical drying agent, according to past reports.
"The science clearly shows that these inflators become unsafe over time, faster when exposed to humidity and variations of temperature," Mark Rosekind, NHTSA administrator, said in early May. "This recall schedule ensures the inflators will be recalled and replaced before they become dangerous, giving vehicle owners sufficient time to have them replaced before they pose a danger to vehicle occupants."
Scientists say they found root cause of explosive Takata airbags
The NHTSA announced in May that its "five-phase" recall will be based on the prioritization of risk, which will pull the age of the inflators, exposure to high humidity and varying high temperatures into its formula.
Jack Nerad, Kelley Blue Book's executive editorial director and market analyst, called the recall "nothing short of mind-boggling" earlier this month. Nerad added that most frightening component of this all, is that drivers and car owners may not get this message in time.
In November 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation settled a criminal investigation with Takata for $70 million. If the Japanese auto-supplier violates its settlement, it could face another $130 million in fines.
The NY Times reports that Takata remains a "key" supplier, which some market analysts to say gives automakers a reason to bail them out.
Koji Endo, Advanced Research Japan's managing director, told the NY Times that although automakers are not pleased, "there is a realistic option they have to pay the cost." He added that if Takata were to vanish, car makers would "be in trouble."
Drivers can determine whether their vehicle is included in the recall by punching a VIN into this link.